England’s divisive Test captain Ben Stokes has called time on his international cricket career mid-match.

The surprise news filtered through during the afternoon session of the fourth day of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

However, Stokes informed the team ahead of play in a speech in which he called for the group to finish his final Test, which is set to end on Monday, without pomp and celebration.

While no official announcement was made at Trent Bridge, the fans gave Stokes a standing ovation as he began a new over, just as the news became public.

And in typical charismatic fashion, the inspirational all-rounder claimed a wicket the very next ball as the ground erupted for the skipper.

The call comes as somewhat of a surprise after Stokes did not hand in the captaincy earlier this month after being sat out of the second Test against New Zealand for a nightclub altercation at the Rex Rooms in London.

He and fast bowler Gus Atkinson had been drinking with Saracens rugby players when the incident occurred in an early-morning breach of team curfew.

Stokes was brought straight back into the line-up, after a brief return to the County scene where he struck 94, for the third Test with Joe Root’s return to leadership ending poorly with a big defeat at The Oval.

England also has a three-Test series against Pakistan beginning next month.

It also means Stokes will not play in next year’s blockbuster Ashes series in England, with his side looking to win back the urn for the first time since 2015, while Australia hunt an outright series win for the first time since 2001, having drawn the past two away series.

Stokes’ greatest feats have arguably come against his fiercest rivals in the Australians.

He made his maiden Test century at the WACA Ground in 2013 but will always be remembered for his miracle century at Headingley that rescued victory from the jaws of certain defeat and allowed England to draw the 2019 Ashes.

He made four centuries and 10 half centuries against Australia as well as claiming 56 wickets, the second-most of any nation he played against.

He and South African legend Jacques Kallis are the only players to have claimed 250 Test wickets and make 7000 Test runs.

His most recent tour on Australian shores was one to forget, the English soundly beaten after appearing to treat the trip as much like a holiday as an Ashes series.

Stokes will also be remembered for fostering ‘Bazball’ alongside coach and former New Zealand superstar Brendon McCullum.

The term coined to describe the team’s positive, and at times devil-may-care, attitude became a rallying cry during his time in charge and refreshed England’s approach to a more entertaining brand of Test cricket, for better or worse.

However, should New Zealand, who are well on top heading towards stumps on the fourth day at Trent Bridge, claim victory in the third Test, Stokes’ captaincy tenure will end with England having failed to win a Test series for more than two years.

Stokes’ accolades include winning the 2019 ODI World Cup on home soil after he played the steering hand in one of the all-time great finals against the Kiwis.